Paris says goodbye to its sporting summer with the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — This time it really is “Au revoir.”

A sporting summer of happiness that began on July 26th in pouring rain with a remarkable opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris on the Seine ended on Sunday with the closing ceremony of the Paralympics in the rain-soaked Stade de France.

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This brings down the curtain on two successful games in a row that thrilled fans and set the bar high for others. Good luck, Los Angeles, in 2028.

While the stadium was ablaze with the blue, white and red colours of the French national flag, a trumpeter played the national anthem “La Marseillaise”, and then Paralympic flag bearers paraded into the stadium carrying national flags, accompanied by the sounds of “The Victorious Hour” by Vangelis.

“Everyone can see what an inclusive world is,” said Tony Estanguet, the director of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, in his closing speech. “There is no turning back now.”

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said France had outdone itself as host at both Games.

“Paris 2024 has set a benchmark for all future Paralympic Games,” said Parsons. “Although France is famous for its fashion and food, it is now famous for its fans.”

The crowd clapped along to a breakdance set before Tony Award winner Ali Stroker performed the American national anthem as part of the handover to Los Angeles.

Stroker made history in 2019 when she became the first person in a wheelchair to win a Tony Award for her role as Ado Annie in the Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” In another part of the televised LA handover, the Venice Beach Skate Park was transformed into a 360-degree stage with skateboarders and wheelchair motocross riders.

Then the crowd went wild as famous French electronic music composer Jean-Michel Jarre concluded the ceremony, which was again led by artistic director Thomas Jolly.

Jarre, 76, played melodies as if he were in a Parisian nightclub, not noticing the rain pouring down on him.

Jolly wanted to transform the stadium into a huge open-air dance party. More than 20 DJs, including Étienne de Crécy, Martin Solveig and Kavinsky, followed the pioneer Jarre in a tribute to French electronic music with the theme “Journey of the Wave”.

Or the farewell wave from the 64,000 fans and the city itself to the more than 4,000 Paralympic athletes.

The summer mood continued

After the successful Olympic Games showcased the enthusiasm of fans from around the world and the beauty of the city’s iconic venues, there were doubts as to whether the energy would continue during the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

These doubts were dispelled as the athletes enjoyed great support. Not all venues were sold out, but this was also due to the fact that the summer holidays were coming to an end and children were going back to school.

Flag bearer Zsofia Konkoly of Hungary during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics, Stade de France, Paris, France, September 8, 2024. Photo by Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters

Due to the great excitement, 2.4 of 2.8 million tickets were sold – only surpassed by the 2.7 million tickets sold for the 2012 London Olympics. This is a remarkable achievement considering that only one million tickets had been sold by the end of June.

Large numbers of Parisians left – some say fled – the city because they were worried about traffic chaos, political unrest, social tensions and growing security fears.

But the locals who stayed or the French fans who traveled from other cities gave their athletes a lot of support during both Games.

“With the Games, we rediscovered our creativity,” said Estanguet, a former Olympic canoe champion. “The France that smiles, that loves itself.”

French success on and off the track

At the Olympic Games, France won 16 of 64 gold medals, placing fifth overall. At the Paralympics, the country won a total of 75 medals.

For French President Emmanuel Macron, the games themselves were a success. Traffic ran smoothly, there were hardly any organizational glitches and the security problems were resolved. The police even chatted to the fans in a friendly manner or posed for photos – a rarity in France.

How long the feel-good factor lasts remains to be seen.

The first sign of this came on Saturday, when thousands took to the streets to protest against the president’s appointment of a conservative new prime minister.

There were some boos for Macron when he was introduced at the beginning of the ceremony.

Plus ça change, as the French proverb goes.

Associated Press writer Kaitlyn Huamani in Los Angeles contributed.